Cradle reel



July 6, 1943.

F. M. LITTELL CRADLE REEL Filed June 24, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l F. M.LlTTELL July 6, 1943.

CRADLE REEL Filed June 24, 1940 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. M. LITTELL CRADLEREEL July 6, 1943.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 24, 1940 W N NW V V 1 .m 1 31.... 1

Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES aren't QF F. J. Littell MachineCompany,

Chicago,

IlL, a corporation of Illinois Application June 24, 1940, Serial No.341,989

2 Claims.

The invention relates to reels for supporting coil stock and hasreference more particularly to an improved cradle type reel havingrotary guide plates for protecting the edges of the material againstdamage.

In reels of the cradle type the coil of metal strip is supported androtated by shafts having contact with the periphery of the coil and toprotect the strip material against damage and injury during feeding ofthe same rotary guide plates have been provided which are adjustable toand from each other to accommodate coils of different widths. It is alsonecessary to protect the coil against damage in the operation of placingthe same on the supporting rolls of the reel.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide improved mountingmeans for rotary guide plates which will permit adjustment thereof in adirection parallel to the axes of the supporting shafts.

Another object resides in the provision of rotary guide plates whichwill depend below the rolls on the supporting shafts of the reel andwherein provision is made for adjustment of the plates outwardly andcertain supporting rolls inwardly for handling relatively wide coils.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, andwherein like reference characters are used to designate like partsFigure 1 is a side elevational view of a cradle type reel embodying theimprovements of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view with parts being shown in section of thereel of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an end view of the cradle reel of the invention lookingtoward the front of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the frame for the present reel consists ofside member H3 and H suitably supported on a base l2 and connected alongthe vertical front edges thereof by the front frame member l3. The rearof the frame is open and a coil of strip material is rolled onto thesupporting shafts it and i5 through said rear opening. Each shaft, asbest shown in Figure 2, is suitably journalled in the side members itand H by roller bearing units it. Each shaft carries a plurality ofsupporting rolls H and IS, the rolls 11 being located substantiallycentrally of each shaft, and the rolls l8, which are somewhat narrow inwidth, being normally positioned outwardly on the respective shaftstoward the side members It and II. The rolls have a covering of Duprenerubber to provide the necessary friction for rotating the coil of stripmaterial but said rolls may also be formed of wood or other material inorder to provide the necessary friction and at the same time protect thesurface of the material in contact therewith.

Adjacent the bearing units I6, mounted in the side frame H3, each shaftM and I5 is provided with a sprocket 28 so that the shafts may beoperatively connected by the chain 2| having associated therewith anidler sprocket 22 for keeping the correct tension on the chain. Shaft !5also carries a sprocket 23 which is located adjacent the side member iiand the driving chain 24 which passes around this sprocket also passesaround sprocket 25 fixed to the shaft 26 of a motor rive unit indicatedin its entirety by numeral 2'3, suitably mounted by means of base 28 onthe front frame member l3 of the machine. Said motor drive unit includesan electric motor 29, Figure 3, and variable driving means en losedwithin housing 3&3 whereby the shaft 26 is constantly driven duringoperation of the motor but at variable speeds, depending on theadjustment of the variable drive means which is effected by rotation ofhandle 3!. Both supporting shafts i4 and 15 are therefore driven inunison and at the particular speed required for feeding the stripmaterial from the coil, thereby reducing the stopping and starting ofthe motor 28 to a minimum.

Each supporting shaft is provided with a longitudinal groove identifiedby numeral 32 with respect to shaft I4 and 33 for shaft l5, the grooveextending from end to end of its particular shaft, and by means of a key34 of conventional constructicn each supporting roll is non-rotatablyheld on its shaft although movement in a direction longitudinally of theshaft is permitted by said groove. The center supporting rolls H arelocked in adjusted position by set screws 35 and each supporting roll i8is likewise locked in adjusted position on its respective shaft by setscrew 36.

For centering the coil of stock within the present reel and to alsoprotect the side edges thereof against damage during feeding operationsrotary guide plates 33 and 59 are provided, each being suitablysupported by means of hub portions 4! on an axially adjustable shaftwhich accordingly mounts the rotary guide plates for adjustment towardand from each other. The hub portions M are each secured to theirrespective guide plates by the radially extending fingers 42 and saidhub portions contain bearing units for journalling the guide plates.With respect to the plate 38 the hub portion 4I rotatably journals thesame on the axially adjustable shaft 43. In a like manner the hubportion 4| journals the guide plate 40 on the end of shaft 44. It willbe observed by reference to Figure 3 that the rotary guide plates are offairly large diameter and that the plates accordingly depend below thesupporting rolls I1 and I8. This is desirable since it assures that theentire side area of the coil supported within the reel will be incontact with a rotary guide plate.

When the coil is relatively narrow the center supporting roll I1 willprovide sufiicient contact for supporting the coil and rotating the samedue to the peripheral contact therewith. For Wider coils it is desirableto support the same on the rolls I8 in addition to the center rolls I'I.However, when not in use the rolls I8 are positioned outwardly on theirrespective shaft and to render the same operative for supporting a coilthese rolls must be moved inwardly past their respective guide plate.Each guide plate, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with a semi-circularinsert 45 normally located Within a semi-circular cut-out portion formedby the rib 46 in the periphery of each plate. The screw 4'! functions tohold the insert in place.

When it is necessary to move the plates farther apart to accommodatewide coil stock the semicircular insert in each plate is removed and theopening thus provided is aligned with the sup porting rolls I8 on theshaft I4 and I5, successively. When alignment is effected with respectto each supporting roll I8 the same is moved inwardly along its shaftand as a result the roll can be positioned to the inside of its guideplate and relatively close to but spaced somewhat from the centersupporting roll II, depending on the size of the coil stock to besupported by the reel. The additional support provided by rolls I8eliminates any possibility of damage to the strip material during theoperation of uncoiling the same.

Shafts 43 and 44 extend. through hubs 48 formed integral with andprojecting from the outside surface of side frames I II and II. Althougheach shaft 43 and 44 is adjustable in an axial direction, rotation ofthe shaft is prevented by the key 49 having location within each hub andfitting within a key-way 50 extending the length of each shaft. The endof shaft 43, projecting beyond its hub 48, has fixed theret a dependingarm 5|. The lower end of the arm is apertured for receiving theoperating rod 52 which is held against endwise movement with respect tothe arm by the collars 53, which, however, permit rotation of said rod.The rod is threaded for a greater portion of its length and said end hasthreaded engagement with the stationary nut 54 suitably mounted in andsecured to the side member I of the frame. The rod 52 is adapted to berotated by the operator for which reason the projecting end has a squareforma tion 55 for receiving a handle or the like, and as a result ofsaid rotation the rod will be caused to travel axially and to impartsimilar movement to the shaft 43 and thus to the rotary guide plate 38.In a similar manner shaft 44 is provided with a depending arm 56 withwhich is associated the operating rod 51, likewise threaded for thegreater portion of its length and which threaded portion passes throughthe stationary nut 58. Rotation of rod 51 will cause axial movement ofthe same with respect to the side member II and similar movement will beimparted to shaft 44 and to the rotary guide plate 40.

Each rotary guide plate is accordingly adjustable in an axial directionfor accommodating coils of different widths and the supporting rolls I8can also be varied in position on their respective shafts in order toprovide the additional support for relatively wide coils. Irrespectiveof the width of the particular coil of stock supported by the presentreel the same will be guided by the rotary discs and automaticallycentered on the reel. The said rotary discs in contacting the side edgesof the coil protect the same against damage such as curling. It will beobserved that although shafts 43 and 44 are held against rotation,nevertheless the guide plates 38 and 40 are mounted by the hubs 4I so asto have free rotation and means are provided in the form of operatingrods 52 and 51 for adjusting the plates in an axial direction forelfectively holding the same in adjusted position.

There is associated with the present reel a coil catcher of novel designcomprising an air cylinder 60 located below the diagonal end plate BIand pivotally mounted at 62 to a bracket 63 located adjacent the base I2and the front wall I3 of the reel. The cylinder has connection with asource of air supply by pipe 64 and when air is admitted to the cylindermovement is imparted to the piston rod 65. The outer .end of the pistonrod has pivotal connection as at 66 with the arm 61 supported forswinging movement as at 68 from the front wall I3 of the reel. At theconnection 66 of the swinging arm with the piston rod the said armprovides a member III providing a contact surface for engagement withthe periphery of the coil. As a result of the pivotal connection of thearm 61 with the frame and the pivotal support for the air cylinder 6| itwill be observed that the said member III is directed forwardly andupwardly when air is admitted to the cylinder. In accordance with theinvention the construction is such that member ID will contact theperiphery of the coil and maintain the same in balanced relation on therear shaft I4. When supported and balanced in this manner the center ofthe mass of the coil is located at C, Figure 1, which point ispositioned on a vertical line slightly to the right of shaft I4. Thislocates the mass of the coil between the two supporting points andaccordingly the coil will maintain its position, being mostly supportedby shaft I4, which position is indicated by the dotted lines II,Figure'l.

The coil can now be gradually lowered onto the shaft I5, which operationonly requires that the air be allowed to exit from cylinder 5i. As airissues from the cylinder the piston rod 65 will gradually move inwardand the member III will move downward and inward. In the lowermostposition of member I0 the coil will come to rest on shafts I4 and I5 andmember 10 will have moved entirely out of contact with the periphery ofthe coil. The air cylinder makes it possible for heavy coils to belocated on the reel without damage to the periphery of the coil or tothe outer turns adjacent the periphery. In most plants the coils arerolled down an incline onto the reel from the rear. In the present reelthe air cylinder is actuated preceding this operation and the member I0acts as a catcher for the coil, preventing a rapid descent onto theforward shaft I5 which heretofore has been the cause of serious damageto the outer turns of metal on the coil. The present coil catcher alsoprevents damage to the supporting rolls and shafts of the reel since theheavy coils are prevented from contacting the front shaft l5 withexcessive impact such as would be the case if the coil catcher were notpresent. The position of member 10 when located upwardly and forwardly,as in dotted lines in Figure 1, is important since the coil whensupported by shaft [4 and said member 10 is balanced and the coil willmaintain this position, allowing the operator to gradually lower thesame in place when desired.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction ofthe particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawingsi, asvarious other forms of the device will of course be apparent to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reel of the cradle type for supporting coil stock and the like,a frame member, a plurality of circumferentially disposed shaftsjournalled by the frame member, axially adjustable supporting rollers oneach shaft adapted to contact the periphery of the coil for supportingthe same, guiding means for the coil comprising a pair of rotary platespositioned on the respective sides of the coil, said rotary platesdepending below the upper surface of the supporting rollers, and aremovable insert in the periphery of each rotary plate providingclearance when removed to permit adjustment of the rollers along theirrespective shafts to either side of the rotary plates.

2. In a reel of the cradle type for supporting coil stock and the like,a frame member, a plurality of circumferentially disposed shaftsjournalled by the frame member, axially adjustable supporting rollers oneach shaft adapted to contact the periphery of the coil for supportingthe same, guiding means for the coil including a pair of rotary platespositioned on the respective sides of the coil, said rotary platesdepending below the upper surface of the supporting rollers, a removableinsert in the periphery of each rotary plate, said insert when removedproviding a semi-circular opening to permit adjustment of the supportingrollers along their respective shafts to either side of the rotaryplates, and axially adjustable shaft members mounting said plates forfree rotation.

FREDERICK M. LITTELL.

